Category Archives: Health

Aug20

Healthcare Heroes

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Healthcare Heroes

Hi! The month of August has been a whirlwind of appointments to prepare for my LEEP and tubal, have surgery, and a visit to Aspen Dental for a cleaning. This has all been a bit stressful but thanks to the expert care I received, it was basically a cake walk. My gyno, the hospital staff, and the team at my dentist’s office provided the absolute best care and I am so thankful for that. Through simple conversations and their genuine concern, so much of my anxiety was eased to the point that I walked into everything with the utmost confidence. It can be hard to track down medical practitioners that are an excellent fit for you and I feel lucky to have such a trusted team in my corner!

As you all know, my gyno has been monitoring the abnormalities in my cervix for quite a while through routine biopsies. Those were always a bit scary but it needed to be done and her calm, cool demeanor soothed the butterflies in my basket. What I have appreciated about my gyno since my first appointment with her is that she speaks in layman’s terms so I am never in the dark with even more questions. Leading up to the surgery I, of course, had a lot to clarify for my own peace of mind and she was so patient with me. By the time my surgery date rolled around, I had no questions for her or the staff as preparations were underway because all of that had been explicitly covered with my gyno. It made my surgery day such a breeze because I went in feeling totally ready for what would happen next.

A week out from my surgery, it was off to the dentist where I continued to receive exemplary care. I have been going to Aspen Dental for years and will continue to do so because I simply adore my dental hygienist. She is well aware of my nerves when it comes to dental care because of a horrible oral surgery gone wrong. During my cleanings, she allows plenty of time for me to take breaks and expertly uses story telling to take my mind off of the work she’s doing on my teeth. This past appointment, she told me all about the concerts she has attended ranging from David Bowie to Lady Gaga and I was entranced. So much so that I barely felt any nerves whatsoever throughout my appointment.

I have to go to Aspen four times per year because of my gum health and I am pleased to report that I had my best visit yet. It was so good that now I only have to go every four months! Score! Both my hygienist and dentist were so proud of me and I felt such a childlike wave of pleasure as they sung my praises. I have been working really hard on my oral health and applying their recommendations and the hard work paid off. After this great success, I just had to thank them for making going to the dentist not scary anymore and they both recalled my state during my very first appointment there because I was straight up trembling. Now, I can walk into their office with my head held high and a major phobia under control!

Having such amazing medical care is a gift that I do not take lightly. Thank you to all of the Healthcare Heroes out there for everything you do! ❤

Do you have any phobias? What is your least favorite medical appointment (I’m not fond of the eye doctor!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug14

Surgery Story

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Surgery Story

Howdy! This past Tuesday I had a LEEP procedure done to remove precancerous cells from my cervix and I got a tubal as well and it went swimmingly. Johnny, my knight in shining armor, got me to the hospital for my seven o’clock check in and then it was all systems go. Between visits from registration, nurses, my gyno and surgeon, and the anesthesiologists (I can’t believe I spelled that right on the first go!) time moved at a rapid pace and before I knew it, it was nine o’clock and I was off to the OR! My two surgeries lasted about an hour and a half, I woke up in the recovery room two hours later, and we were basically on our way home as soon as I was awake. It felt SO good to go home and lay down some more!

My day after surgery consisted of laying in bed, drinking Gatorade, watching TV, and playing Pokopia and my Johnny waited on me hand and foot. He has been the absolute sweetest! The night after my surgery was the worst, though, because I was pretty much up all night trying to get comfortable. I am a belly sleeper and having to sleep on my back because of my stitches was just not happening. Therefore, the following day consisted of laying in bed, drinking Gatorade, watching TV, and playing Pokopia lol. Johnny even took that day off of work too to care for me since I was still fairly out of it. ❤

I am writing this two days out of surgery in case you can’t tell and am feeling okay. I actually ended up sleeping thirteen hours last night to make up for that first night of no sleep. It felt heavenly!! However, I am still really tired, somewhat sore, and TMI but constipated as all get out lol. And here I was thinking that I would go back to work the day after my operation SMH!! I definitely needed this recovery time though and am glad that I took it because despite the pain, it has been nice to have a few days off. 😀

This entire ordeal has been a bit crazy but I am so thankful to Johnny, my amazing gyno, and the hospital staff for taking the best care of me. The time at the hospital was a whirlwind but even in my froggy state on the way home, I couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky I was. My precancer was caught early and removed, I finally was able to have my tubes removed which is what I have always wanted, and I had a full team behind me ensuring expert care. Any kind of surgery is scary and there were several butterflies in my basket on the way to the hospital but all of those nerves were eased as the process got started. Or maybe it was the Xanax they gave me? Lol the jury is still out on that! But, in conclusion, I am feeling good enough to type this monologue today and that is a strong start!

I apologize for the rambling but even post op, your girl refuses to break her daily content streak and I wanted to update all of you. As relaxing as these days off were, I am ready to get back to the grind!

How has your week been? Do you have any exciting updates? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug10

Wish Me Luck!

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Wish Me Luck!

Hi! As you all know, I have been having my cervical health monitored for the past year and change as my pap smears have shown abnormalities. These problems can resolve themselves but mine have not and my official diagnosis as per my last biopsy is moderate cervical dysplasia. Meaning that these abnormalities are precancerous. Scary? Yes. Fixable? Yes. And I will be having surgery tomorrow. Not only will I be getting the LEEP procedure done to remove the problematic cells via electricity but I will also be getting my tubes tied as well. Johnny and I do not want children and I figure that I might as well get it done while I’m already under anesthesia! (I also can’t believe I spelled anesthesia right on the first go. GOOD FOR ME!)

While this is all a little overwhelming, I mainly feel good about it and have been looking forward to it since my gyno told me we have to go the surgical route. I’m one of those people that once I know that something needs to be done, I want it done ASAFP so waiting for the past month and a half has been torturous! It has been over a decade since I have had a surgical procedure done and I would say my nervousness is at a solid ten percent which isn’t bad. It would be higher if I didn’t have full trust and confidence in my gyno who will be performing my surgeries. She has provided me with the most excellent care and I know that the LEEP and tubal will be successful.

I will definitely be in the best hands with the surgical team and my Johnny is going to be there every step of the way which really eases the butterflies in my basket. Although my nervousness is at a ten percent, excitement makes up the other ninety because this has all been a massive pain in the keister lol. Also is it bad that part of my excitement isn’t coming from solving my moderate cervical dysplasia? Because I’ve been fantasizing about the post op Taco Bell something FIERCE and I am not the slightest bit ashamed to admit it. Hey, I have to have something to look forward to to face the discomfort once everything is said and done!

If you are a person with women’s parts, I cannot emphasize enough how important your gynecological care is. Through early detection you can stop precancerous cells in their tracks. Here’s to scheduling an appointment with your gyno today and here’s to me for tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Have you had to have surgery? What was your recovery like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul17

An Update On My Update

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An Update On My Update

Howdy! In June I had to have another biopsy to monitor some abnormalities in my cervix with the result being one of two things. 1) The problem resolved itself. Or 2) Surgery would be needed to remove these cells. My results ended up being Option 2 and I just had a pre-op appointment with my gyno on Monday. Either in August or September, I will be getting the LEEP procedure done which uses electricity to shave away my tissue with the issues. AND, if the price isn’t an arm and a leg, I will also be getting my tubes tied and hopefully returning home that day. It’s kind of a lot lol.

After my appointment I went to work and the conversation I had with my gyno didn’t really hit me until I returned home. Then, the processing began. Any type of surgery is scary and the situation that’s causing me to have a procedure done is scary too! For about ten minutes or so, I was deep in my feels. I knew this surgery was inevitable but it still seemed like something so far away until a tentative month was put in place. On Monday, I had to face that realization head on and it lightweight sucked lol. After wallowing for a bit, I snapped to, played some Pokopia, and kept reminding myself that this surgery was the best possible thing for me and began feeling better.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still pretty nervous but my thankfulness trumps the butterflies in my tummy! I am so thankful that after monitoring these changes on my cervix for over a year and change that there is a solution. The surgery is not going to take long, recovery time is minimal, and any cells that are a cause to worry will be gone. These are all great things and, honestly in that sense, everything is coming up Lil Red! Remember that caring for women parts with annual appointments not only ensures that all systems are a go but gives you the opportunity to monitor any changes in real time. This can prevent so much hardship later so be sure you are making those gyno appointments and sticking to them!

The next step in my cervix saga is surgery and I say the sooner the better. I am SO ready to get it over with!

Have you ever had surgery before? What was it for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun22

A Little Update

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A Little Update

Hello! About a year or so ago I went to my annual appointment with my gynecologist and learned that the results of my pap smear had some abnormalities due to having HPV. I have had to get cervical biopsies every half a year since and recently had another one done in mid June. A few days ago I got a call from my gyno to tell me that there were some mild changes in the results and the next best step would be discussing surgery options to remove these problematic cells. I will be having an appointment to do so in early July. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t slightly nervous!

After receiving that call, I was a bit bummed out but not really surprised. I wouldn’t have had several biopsies if there wasn’t something not so great brewing. However, after the initial five minute pity party I was more thankful than anything. Yes, there are abnormalities BUT it was caught and expertly monitored early. Therefore, any procedures that follow won’t be as invasive. And, as a bonus, I might even be able to get my tubes tied when that cell removal happens. It’s kind of a win/win. This problem could have been resolved itself OR there would be a procedure that would resolve it. I just have to keep reminding myself that this is a best case scenario even if the idea of surgery is scary.

This is all to say that if you are a person with female anatomy, then please be sure you are going to the gynecologist for your annual appointments! If I didn’t attend mine, these abnormalities that were found would continue to change and more major surgery would be required. When these issues are found early, you will be able to have a best case scenario too. The risk of not getting screened regularly far outweighs any reward and it’s so important to take control of your health. I’m proud of myself for facing this issue head on and so grateful to be in the excellent care of my gyno. I might be a smidge worried but I know everything will be a-okay. ❤

In conclusion, stay on top of your health and your doctor’s appointments and stay tuned for updates on my health journey. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Have you had surgery before? How do you feel about attending medical appointments? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun2

4 Healthy Habits To Focus On Long-Term

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4 Healthy Habits To Focus On Long-Term

Everyone wants to be as healthy as possible, but most people think that means making large, dramatic changes. That doesn’t have to be the case! It’s just a matter of having a few healthy habits and snacks, and there shouldn’t be much to worry about. Four of these could end up being essential for your health as time goes on:

Taking an Exercise Break:

You’ll already know you should take breaks when you’re working, whether you’re in an office or working from home. This shouldn’t just be to grab a coffee or going to have lunch, though. It’s worth adding a bit of exercise to it, especially if you happen to sit at an office all day. The human body isn’t supposed to be seated constantly, after all. You could end up having health conditions because of it. By taking an exercise break you allow yourself the time to improve yourself while also boosting your mood for the rest of the day.

Cutting Out the Cigarettes:

Smoking is one of the most common habits around the world, despite how unhealthy it is. It increases your chances of developing various forms of cancer while impacting more than a few other parts of your life, too. That’s why it’s always worth quitting. You’ll end up noticing a large difference in your health as time goes on. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be as hard as you’d think. It could just be a matter of using the right products. Nicotine gum, patches, and similar products can help. Even vapes can be a great option to help cut down and quit, especially with the likes of IVG Pro 12 Refill vape pods.

Keeping Your Balance:

Most people don’t worry about their balance too much. At least, that’s the case until they start having problems with it. When you’re relatively young, this is the furthest thing from your mind. But, it could be more of a problem as you get older, and you could risk more than a few injuries. Preventing this doesn’t have to be too hard. Yoga and similar steps could be more than enough to help with your balance. And, you can work them into the exercise breaks mentioned above to make it even easier for yourself.

Being Mindful:

Your mental health is just as important to focus on with your health habits as your physical health is. And, there are more than a few habits that can help with this, with mindfulness being one of the more notable. It’ll help deal with your stress levels and anxiety quite a bit more than you would’ve thought. It can even improve your mood and help with mild pain, too. The trick is to put in consistent time and effort. You’ll see some benefits short-term, but these get a lot more pronounced as time goes on.

Living a healthy and happy life can be as simple as incorporating a few of the tips above into your daily routine!

Featured Image By: Aziz Acharki from Unsplash.

May26

How Bluetooth Is Enabling Healthier Lifestyles

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How Bluetooth Is Enabling Healthier Lifestyles

Bluetooth technology transformed the phone market several years ago by allowing people to connect more devices to their smartphones wirelessly. It’s now entering the health sector and creating powerful changes there as well. Here’s what’s happening:

Seamlessly synchronizing biometrics 24/7:

One of the most underrated impacts of Bluetooth and its effect on enabling healthier lifestyles is how it’s seamlessly synchronising biometrics for people 24/7. Anyone who is wearing a device or going for workouts now knows that they can log all of their data on a simple app, all powered by Bluetooth.

Smartwatches, fitness bands, and other types of wearables use this technology for things like continuous oxygen-level monitoring and heart rate variability. The amount of data that can now be gleaned by the combination of sensors and Bluetooth is extraordinary, and brands are combining it with intelligent AI software to provide integrated dashboards to consumers.

Upgrading home care preventative health measures:

Another way Bluetooth is enabling healthier lifestyles is by bridging the gap between home wellness and clinical medicine. For example, it’s now possible to connect vital measurements like blood pressure, weight, and temperature to phones and cloud software. 

In addition to this, Bluetooth hearing aids are being equipped with emergency fall alert technology. These features are particularly helpful for older people who may be living at home and at risk of falling.

What’s interesting about these latest technologies is that they don’t rely on single data points taken once a year at a doctor’s office. Instead, Bluetooth technology allows trends to be tracked over many weeks and months, building a fuller picture of a person’s state of overall health.

Improving chronic condition management:

The effects of connected Bluetooth technology on chronic condition management are nothing short of extraordinary. The rise of continuous glucose monitors for people with diabetes means they can now get alerts on their phones for when they should take insulin or when they’ve eaten a meal with too much sugar in it. There are also smart inhalers that track usage patterns and geographic triggers. These can help patients figure out what might be causing their asthma attacks and provide them with more information on when they should take their inhalers to open up their airways.

Making hearing health more accessible:

Another change you might have noticed is the improvements in hearing health. Bluetooth is making hearing health gadgets more accessible and changing how people interact with their environments. For example, it’s now possible for individuals to stream audio from public screens in airports and railway stations. This streaming eliminates the need to interpret sounds through the microphone first, making sounds clearer and easier to perceive.

This is also being used to create more smart environments. Healthy living isn’t just about moving bodies. It’s also about the air people breathe and the environment that they live in. Bluetooth air quality monitoring can track CO2 levels, volatile organic compounds, and allergens. It can also implement automated fixes to HVAC systems and smart ventilation technologies.

Are you synced up to Bluetooth to monitor your health? It can only help!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

May25

How To Handle The Emotions Of Hearing Loss

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How To Handle The Emotions Of Hearing Loss

There is no doubt that any kind of hearing loss can have a big impact on your life. But it is not only the day-to-day practical side of life that it affects, it also takes its toll emotionally as well. A sense of helplessness and depression is common. Let’s look closer at a few of the ways that you can put yourself in a better position to handle the emotional side of hearing loss:

Don’t Hide Your Feelings:

Whether your hearing loss is sudden or gradual, there is certainly a sense of mourning involved. To support yourself through this grieving process, turn to your friends and family for support. Rely on the people who are closest to you in your life and express to them what you are going through as clearly as you can. You may also find that it is helpful to talk your feelings through with a therapist.

Make Communication Simpler:

Of course, you are never going to get used to hearing loss instantly. Older people, in particular, tend to wait longer than they should to get treatment as they find it difficult to accept the loss. Hearing loss tends to have an isolating effect as people find social situations so much more challenging than they once did. Whenever you are speaking to people, you can help the situation by turning down background noise like the television or radio. You can also ask people to speak slowly and clearly, and face them at all times so that you can see their mouth and gestures. Essentially, do everything you can to make your life that little bit easier.

Understand Your Options:

The more that you learn about the process of hearing loss, the more you can ease your anxiety and start to feel better. There are plenty of resources that you can use and advice that you can follow from an audiologist or ear, nose, and throat doctor. Find out about the common treatment options that are out there with a local hearing exam, the support groups in your area, and what sort of medical checkups you need to have on a regular basis.

Stay Realistic:

Even though hearing devices are so much more advanced than they once were, they are not instant cures. It takes a while before your brain adjusts to the sound coming through them, and in many ways, the process involves learning to listen all over again. Stay realistic in the challenge you have in front of you and be prepared to exercise some patience.

There is no pretending that hearing loss is going to be an easy thing to go through, but these are just a few of the ways that you can better handle the emotional side of it so that you can live a life that remains as rich and fulfilling as possible.      

Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar2

Hearing Loss From Noise Exposure: How Loud Is Too Loud?

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Hearing Loss From Noise Exposure: How Loud Is Too Loud?

Everyone loses their hearing a bit as they get older. However, some people experience much more drastic hearing loss at a younger age – often as a direct result of noise exposure. It’s important to identify when things get too loud so that you can take steps to either protect your ears or turn down the volume. Below is more information on exactly how loud noise damages the ears, how to identify unhealthy noise levels, and how to preserve your hearing:

How does noise exposure cause hearing loss?

Our auditory system is complex and delicate. Hair cells within our ears are responsible for picking up sound waves. When the vibrations are too strong for extended periods, these hair cells and their connected nerve endings can die. Some noises can even be so loud that they instantly rupture our ear drums, leading to instant hearing loss. While sometimes hearing can return, damage can often be permanent.

How loud is too loud?

Our hearing starts to become damaged once sounds reach 85 decibels. As the volume exceeds this, hearing damage occurs more quickly. Below are a few different decibel levels, what they equate to, and how quickly hearing loss occurs:

Safe volume:

  • 60 decibels: Normal speaking volume
  • 65 decibels: Dishwasher in next room
  • 70 decibels: Vacuum cleaner
  • 75 decibels: Busy restaurant
  • 80 decibels: Alarm clock

Hearing damage occurs within hours of prolonged exposure:

  • 85 decibels: Food blender
  • 90 decibels: Lawnmower
  • 95 decibels: Hand drill

Hearing damage occurs within minutes of prolonged exposure:

  • 100 decibels: Factory machinery
  • 105 decibels: Helicopter up close
  • 110 decibels: Rock concert
  • 115 decibels: Chainsaw

Instant hearing loss:

  • 120+ decibels: Jet engines, fireworks, gunshots

Signs noise exposure is causing hearing loss:

If you notice ringing in your ears, it’s a sign that hearing damage has already occurred. This ringing can often go away if you make sure to take a break from loud noises the next day, but could become permanent if you keep exposing yourself to loud noise. Muffled hearing is another sign that permanent damage has taken place. If you notice yourself struggling to hear people in conversations, turning up the volume higher on the TV, or not hearing people calling your name, it might be worth seeing an audiologist and getting your hearing checked. Hearing aids can help to restore some hearing, while treatment may also be possible for tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

How to protect your hearing:

Make sure to wear ear protection in loud environments – this could include ear defenders or earplugs. There are specialist earplugs that you can buy for music events that can quieten noise while still providing some clarity. Otherwise, if you can, try to limit time spent in loud environments. When listening to music on headphones, you should also try to avoid listening to music at overly loud levels (many devices will now warn you if the volume is too loud). When buying power tools and appliances, look into quieter options that can help to reduce your exposure to loud noise and wear ear protection when operating.

Hear loud and clear with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb23

How To Sharpen Up Your Senses

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How To Sharpen Up Your Senses

Like the old saying goes: You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. This is certainly true of your senses, which is why it is so important to look after all five of them in the best way that you can. In this blog post, we will give you a general overview of how you can protect them so that these senses can always stay sharp:

Sight:

Beyond the age of 45, your eyes tend to dry out resulting in light sensitivity, blurry vision, and burning eyes. A diet rich in omega-3s such as fish or walnuts can help to keep this condition at bay. You can also get prescription drops as a way of stimulating tear production. Taking supplements such as vitamin C can help to prevent cataracts in the future. You should also try to avoid prolonged sun exposure by taking regular breaks and investing in a good pair of sunglasses for driving or outings.

Smell:

The older you get, the weaker your sense of smell becomes. You should be aiming to minimize your contact with smoke and household chemicals. There is also some evidence that the more you seek out different scents, the better you can protect your sense of smell. A couple of things that you could include in this sniffing exercise include peppermint and cinnamon. You could also make potpourris to place throughout your home to help keep your sniffer strong.

Taste:

The first thing that you should do to protect your sense of taste is practice good oral hygiene. This will help to keep your tongue in good condition and protect your taste buds from infections. Though there isn’t much that you can do to reclaim your sense of taste, what you can do is add extra spices and flavorings to your food. If you find that you are suffering from a dry mouth, you should aim to reduce your intake of dehydrating substances like caffeine and alcohol.   

Hearing:

You should have a hearing test if you notice any issues or if you simply want to gain some peace of mind. Prevention is important when it comes to hearing, so you should wear protective devices when you are exposed to any loud noises. Don’t listen to music through headphones at too loud a volume or for too long. If you have already damaged your hearing, you should speak to your doctor about being fitted with a hearing aid.

Touch:

As you start to get older, your skin becomes less elastic and you are likely to lose sensitivity over time. A few of the ways that you can help to prevent it include a healthy lifestyle full of regular exercise, a low-fat diet, and not smoking. Taking aspirin will dilate blood vessels and improve circulation therefore increasing stimulation of the dermis.

Of course, age-related sensory decline is an inevitable fact of life, but there are plenty of ways that you can protect all five of them in the best way possible. Following some of the advice in this article is a great starting point!

Featured Image By: Pexels